Portable fence



(No Model.)

J. IRWIN. Portable Pence.-

No. 238,783. Patented March 15,1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT QEETCE.

JOHN M. IRWIN, OF EDINA, MISSOURI.

PORTABLE FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 238,783, dated March 15, 1881.

Application filed July 26, 1880. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. IRWIN, of Edina, in the county of Knox and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Fences; and I. do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the acrompan yin g drawings, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a section of my improved fence. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same; and Fig. 3 is a detail View, on an enlarged scale, of the ends of two adjoining panels, showing the connection.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like letters of reference.

This invention relates to that class of portable fences which are made up of separate panels; and it consists in certain improvements in the construction of the same, which I shall now proceed more fully to describe with reference to the drawings hereto annexed, in which- A A represent the panels of my improved fence, each of which is made up of several horizontal slats, rails, or boards, B B, connected by vertical end pieces, 0 O, nailed or otherwise secured to the ends of said slats or boards on opposite sides of the panel.

The bases or supports of my improved fence consist of planks I), placed upon the ground underneath and transversely to the adjoining ends of each pair of panels. In these planks D notches E are formed to receive the lower ends of the end pieces, 0, of the panels, as clearly shown in Fi 3 of the drawings.

To maintain the panels of the fence in an upright position I avail myselfof wires F, having one end attached to a pin or staple, G, at one end of plank or cross-piece D, passed from thence up and around the adjoining end pieces of adjoining panels, and then down to the opposite end of the base, where its free end is attached to a pin or staple, G. In this manner it will be seen that the adjoining ends of the panels are not only tied together securely, but also maintained firmly in a vertical or upright position.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood. My improved fence is simple, inexpensive, easily constructed, and it may be put up or taken down for removal very easily and rapidly.

It may be stated that to increase the strength of the panels they may be provided with one or more intermediate vertical or diagonal crossslats constructed and affixed like the end pieces, D.

I am aware that fences have been constructed of panels the upper rails of which have projecting ends connected or tied together by wires anchored to transverse braces. It is evident, however, that upon undulating ground such fences are not secure, owing to the facility with which the upper ends of adjoining panels are disconnected or separated.

I am also aware that fences have been constructed of two-part notched posts tied together by wires anchored to stakes. Such fences, besides not properly being constructed of panels, are liable to the very serious objection of lateral displacementofthe rails, which must inevitably be followed by displacement of the anchoring-wires and destruction of the fence.

By the construction shown and claimed by me complete panels are only used in the fence, and the end pieces (not the rails) of said panels are securely connected by the anchoringwires in such a manner as to make displacement or disturbance of the fence quite impossible from ordinary causes.

Having thus described my invention, I'claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- As an improvement in portable panel-fences, the combination, with a centrally-notched foot or base piece, of the board or rail panels, having their adjoining vertical end pieces ad justed face to face in the notches of said footpieces, and the connecting-wires wound around the vertical end pieces of adjoining panels and anchored to the ends of the foot or base, sub stantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN MATTHEW IRWIN.

Witnesses:

GRIFFIN Fnosr, W. P. MCGONIGLE. 

